System and method for a cellular communication networks originated 911 call emergency response system

ABSTRACT

A cellular communication network has a mobile switching center (MSC) that maintains a GPS location data of a mobile handset referenced by a mobile identification number (MIN) and an electronic serial number (ESN) in addition to a geographic cell number in an HLR database for handsets operating in the network. The GPS location data of the handset may be used for efficient paging to a specific cell to route incoming calls to the handset, route emergency responder calls with the physical location of the handset and to program the handset with the handset transmission strength to the nearest cell tower In lieu of using triangulation algorithm.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims priority from Provisional Application Ser. No.61/612,889, filed Mar. 19, 2012 of Tara Chand Singhal, titled, “Systemand Method for Efficient Operation of Cellular Communication Networks”.

This application is related to and claims priority from ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 61/631,527, filed Jan. 5, 2012 of Tara ChandSinghal, titled, “A System Using GPS to Enhance Battery Life in HandheldWireless Mobile Devices”.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

A system using GPS location of cell phone devices to improve theoperation of cellular communication networks is described. The systemuses cell phone devices that use Registration-Request Signaltransmission from the cell phone device to convey GPS location of thedevice to the wireless network.

BACKGROUND

Cellular communication networks operate with and have cell phonedevices, sometimes called handsets, cell towers, base stations, mobileswitching center (MSC), with access to home location record (HLR)database that maintain subscriber data including their present locationby a geographic cell number. The handsets communicate to the network viathe cell towers on control and data channels. Networks detectregistration-request (R-R) signals on the control channel from thehandset and record in the HLR database the presence of the handset inthe cell the handset sent the R-R signal from.

The operation of cellular network depends on knowing the generallocation of the handset in a group of cells to page the handset in thosecontiguous cell areas and route a call to the given cell area from whichthe handset responds to the page. That general location of the handsetin the HLR database requires the MSC to page a handset in multiple cellsbased on last known area.

Cellular networks rely on a technique known as triangulation based onsignal strength from the handset at a minimum of three different celltowers. The measured received signal strength is used for computing alocation of the handset in the cell space using a triangulationalgorithm. This approach of triangulation to determine the physicallocation of the handset within a cell space is used for both batterymanagement in the handset and also used for 911 emergency calls toprovide a location of the handset to the emergency responders asrequired by a 911 federal mandate.

Almost all handsets now come equipped with and have GPS functionality.Many commercial enterprises have figured out ways to use the GPSfunctionality in the handsets for marketing purposes. It is believedthat the same GPS functionality in handsets may be used in a number ofdifferent ways to improve the operation of the cellular communicationnetworks.

Hence, it is an objective of the embodiments herein to provide forsystems and methods to improve operation of cellular networks using GPSfunctionality that is already embedded in the handsets/cell phonedevices.

SUMMARY

In the prior art landline based telephone system, the telephone companyalways knew of the physical location of a call originated on a landlinetelephone device. With the advent of the cellular wireless network andthe cell phone devices that operate with such a wireless network that isnot possible as the cell phone device is mobile and may be in anylocation in a geographic area.

The embodiments described herein enable the wireless networks tomaintain a precise location of the cell phone devices at all the times.Such embodiments are useful for many purposes, not the least of which isto route 911 emergency calls originating via the mobile cell phonedevice. The other purpose is to provide an efficient operation of thewireless cellular network then that has been possible in the prior artcellular telephone networks.

Before providing a summary of the embodiments herein, the operation of acellular telephone network is described in a tutorial manner, which itis believed, would help a reader better understand the embodimentsdescribed herein. In the content that follows, the terms handset, cellphone, cell phone device, and device have been used interchangeably.

In a cellular telephone network, geographic space over which cellularservice is provided is partitioned in to a large number of geographiccells. Each geographic cell is about a few square miles and is coveredby multiple cellular tower antennas. Coverage of a cell area by threetowers is preferred, as the three cell towers by measuring the relativestrength of the cell phone transmission and by using triangulation candetermine the location of the cell phone within the cell space.

This location of the cell phone within the cell itself is not requiredfor the cellular telephone network operation itself. However, thecellular network may use this location information of the cell phonewithin the geographic cell for purposes other than cellular networkoperation. One such purpose is to support a federal 911 mandate. Othersuch purpose is to reduce the transmission power of the cell phone basedon distance to the nearest tower to minimize battery usage and thusenhance battery life.

The cell phones are mobile and based on the cell phone owner's lifestyle and vocation a cell phone may move within a cell space, not moveat all, or move rapidly across many cells such as when the cell phoneowner is in a vehicle in motion or is in a flight. Thus the cell phonesmay therefore either not change their cell location or change their celllocation slowly, or change rapidly and unpredictably. Therefore, as partof the cellular telephone network operation, it is necessary for thecellular network to know in which specific geographic cell the cellphone is physically located at any given time.

To provide that specific geographic cell location information to thecellular network, cell phones have been designed to periodicallybroadcast an identity signal, called Registration-Request Signal (RRS)that is used by the cellular network to determine and then save thegeographic cell location of a wireless mobile cell phone in a networkdatabase. The network database is maintained by the cellular carrier andis referenced to and used for routing incoming calls to the specificcell where the cell phone is located.

Based on the speed and unpredictable nature with which a cell phone maymove and thus potentially cross geographic boundary of a cell space, theRegistration-Request Signal (RRS) is broadcast by the cell phone everyfew seconds. The RRS should not be confused with the roaming and roamingsignal which uses the same Registration-Request Signal in a cell phoneto operate in a cellular carrier area that is not covered by the homecarrier with which the cell phone owner has contracted for the celltelephone service.

The location of the cell phone in a specific cell that is maintained inthe network database is used to route incoming calls to the geographiccell where the cell phone is located. These incoming calls may originatein any part of the landline and cellular network nationally or globally.

Two different aspects of the efficient cellular network operationtechnology are described herein. The first of these aspects minimizes orsuppresses the transmission of the R-R Signal from the cell phone devicewhen the cell phone has not moved more than 100 feet from an immediateprior location. The second aspect is that the R-R Signal transmissionembeds the GPS location data of the cell phone device.

Both of these aspects are capable of independent operation of eachother. First of these aspects has been described earlier in anotherpending application of the applicant as a means to economize on thebattery life of the cell phone device. Both of these aspects oftechnology working together provide for a more efficient cellularnetwork operation as described in the embodiments herein. The first aswell as the second of these aspects and their benefits are described indetail in this application.

The cellular network uses these Registration-Request Signals from thedevices to record and maintain in a database the current cell locationof the device. The database is used to determine the current celllocation of the device so that the incoming calls are routed to thespecific cell where the device is located based on theRegistration-Request Signals being transmitted from the device to thenetwork.

It is not easy to predict when the cell phone of an individual userwould move and if it does move how much does it move relative to a cellspace, as that would be a function of the life style and cell phone usecharacteristics of an individual. Further, it is not easy to predictwhen the cell phone would move in a vehicle requiring constanttransmissions of the Registration-Request Signal, as currently providedin the prior art technology. The location of the cell phone would changerapidly based on the speed of the vehicle.

The embodiments described herein provide a Registration-Request SignalTransmission Management (RRSTM) logic that would manage and optimize theRegistration-Request Signal transmissions from the cell phone devicebased on the individual user behavior of using a cell phone. That is,determine when the cell phone has moved and how much it has movedrelative to a geographic cell and use that information to either notsuppress prior art Registration-Request Signal transmissions or suppresssuch prior art Registration-Request Signal transmissions.

Dynamically adjusting the rate of Registration-Request Signaltransmission that is made possible by the RRSTM logic does not affectthe cellular operation of the cell phone as any use of the cell phone isnot affected by dynamically adjusting the Registration-Request Signaltransmission as had been described above. The prior artRegistration-Request Signal transmissions work independently of theactual use of a cell phone for receiving and initiating calls to otherphones.

A cell phone working in conjunction with a cellular network uses controlchannels and data channels. The control channel is used forcommunicating and exchanging control data such as RR signal and tocommunicate voice/data channels to be used for a given voice/dataconnection. Hence the use of the control channel for RR signal does notaffect the operation of the cell phone in sending and receiving voiceand data transmissions.

As described in the embodiments herein, the R-R logic in handsets ismodified to include a current GPS location data of the cell phone devicein the R-R record. The wireless network from the received R-R recordretrieves the GPS location data of the cell phone devices and saves inthe HLR database. By modifying the R-R logic to embed GPS location data,the HLR database is able to maintain such location data in the HLRdatabase.

Maintaining such GPS location data in the HLR database provides multiplebenefits for improving the operation of the wireless networks. One ofthese benefits is that of accurate paging of the cell phones for routingincoming calls. Another of these benefits is to be able to provide forwireless network originated 911 calls, the seamless location of the cellphone device to emergency responders. Yet another benefit may also be tocalibrate the device's signal transmission strength in lieu of usingtriangulation algorithms that are used in prior art.

These and other aspects of the embodiments herein are further describedin detail with the help of the accompanying drawings and thedescription, where similar number are used to identify the features ofthe embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some of the novel features of the embodiments will be best understoodfrom the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer tosimilar parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates the features of GPS locationdata in the operation of the cellular communication network;

FIG. 2A is a block diagram that illustrates features of the benefits ofGPS data in precise paging in the operation of networks;

FIG. 2B is a block diagram that illustrates features of the benefits ofGPS data for emergency responders;

FIG. 2C is a block diagram that illustrates features of the benefits ofGPS data in computing a precise handset transmission signal strength inthe operation of handsets of the networks;

FIGS. 3A and 3B, are block diagrams that illustrate features ofdifferent embodiments of using GPS data in the Registration-RequestSignal Transmission Management logic;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are logic block diagrams that illustrate operation ofthe R-R Signal management function;

FIG. 4C is a block diagram that illustrates features of the logicoperating in the mobile switching center for retrieving the device GPSlocation data from a received R-R signal and saving the same in the HLRdatabase;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are logic block diagrams for the mobile switching center(MSC) that illustrate operation of one the features of the embodimentsherein that of accurate paging of cell phone;

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D are block diagrams for the mobile switchingcenter (MSC) and the Emergency Response System that illustrate operationof one the features of the embodiments herein that of routing a 911emergency call;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are logic block diagrams for the mobile switching center(MSC) that illustrate operation of one the features of the embodimentsherein that of computing device's signal transmission strength;

FIG. 8 is method diagram for using GPS data of the cell phone device inthe operation of the cellular communication networks.

DESCRIPTION Introduction

As illustrated with reference to FIG. 1, a cellular communicationnetwork 14 has cell towers 16, a base station 18, and a mobile switchingcenter (MSC) 19 working in conjunction with a HLR database 20. Thenetwork 14 via the cell towers 16 communicates with handsets 12 that arepart of the operation of the cellular communication network 14.

The handset 12 has GPS function 22, optionally a Gyro function 24 and anR-R Signal Transmission management function 10.

The registration request signal transmission management (RRSTM) function10 embeds the handset location data from the GPS function 22 as part ofthe R-R signal 26 so that the record 27 that is transmitted over thecontrol channel from the handset 12 has in addition to mobile identitynumber MIN 27A, electronic serial number ESN 27B, the global positioningsystem GPS location data 27C.

The MSC 19 receives R-R signals 26 from handsets 12 that contain in therecord 27, in addition to MIN 27A and ESN 27B, the GPS location data27C. The MSC 19 uses this data to maintain a HLR database 20. The HLRdatabase 20 maintains a GPS location data 27C of a mobile handset 12referenced by a mobile identification number (MIN) 27A and a electronicserial number (ESN) 27B in addition to a geographic cell number 27D inan HLR database 20 for handsets 12 operating in the network 14. The HLRdatabase many also store other subscriber data including privileges andaccount standing.

As illustrated with reference to FIG. 2A, the GPS location data 27C inthe HLR database 20 may be used for more efficient paging to the handset12 to route an incoming call 28 to the handset 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the GPS location data 27C in the HLR database20 may also be used for more efficient response to the emergencyresponders 29 via a 911 logic 30 that may operate in the MSC 19 orpreferably may operate in a separate server attached or interfaced tothe MSC 19.

As illustrated in FIG. 2C, the GPS location data 27C in the HLR database20 may also be used to program the handsets 12 with the handsettransmission signal strength 31 based on the handset's relative locationto the cell towers 16, in lieu of prior art triangulation algorithms.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the operation of the RRSTM and how the R-Rsignal transmission logic in the handset is used to embed GPS locationdata.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate how the R-R signal management function logickeeps track of handset movements and suppresses R-R transmissions whenthe handset 12 has not physically changed its position more than 100feet.

As illustrated with reference to FIG. 4C, the MSC 19 of the network 14receives and processes an R-R record 27 from the handset 12 thatcontains GPS location data 27C and stores GPS location data 27C in theHLR database 20.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate operation of the logic in the MSC 19 thatmakes use of the GPS location data in the HLR database 20 for accuratepaging of the cell phones for routing incoming calls.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D illustrate operation of a 911 emergency callrouting system for 911 calls originating in the wireless network.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate operation of the logic in the MSC 19 thatmakes use of the GPS location data in the HLR database 20 for accuratecomputing of the device's signal transmission strength to enhance devicebattery life in lieu of prior art triangulation approach.

It is up to the cellular network carrier which one of these featuresdescribed herein to use and not use to enhance the operation of thenetwork. There may be more or different features and applications thatmay be supported by the HLR database and these are not ruled out. Whilesome of these functions may be used to improve the operationalefficiency of the cellular communication networks others may be used topossibly generate additional revenues by providing enhanced services toa number of businesses who may benefit from knowing the location of thenetwork subscribers.

FIG. 8 is a method diagram of the operation of the cellularcommunication network with the features of the embodiments herein. Theseand other aspects of the embodiments herein are described in detail,where the headings are provided for reader convenience.

Registration-Request Signal Transmission Management Function 10

FIG. 3A illustrates the RRSTM function 10. There is a timer function 30that is driven by a clock signal 48. Part of the phone logic keeps phoneidentification data called IMEI. A function 32 gets the IMEI data. Afunction 33 creates a transmission record using the IMEI data. Thefunction 34 also gets and embeds the GPS location data. A function 35then checks the timer to see if the time elapsed in equal five seconds.If the time elapsed in five seconds, the RRSTM logic 11 is activated.The details of the logic 11 are described with respect to FIG. 3B. TheRRSTM logic 36 requires input of cell phone location 46. When the logicreturns from the RRSTM logic 11, the function 37 to send transmissioncommand is executed. The function 38 executes the transmission logic.

FIG. 3B illustrates the functions of the RRSTM logic 11. These functionsare (i) set up and run an elapsed time timer, 50 (ii) Input/receive cellphone locations at every elapsed time interval 52, (iii) compute changein location (LChangeDelta) between current and immediate prior location54, (iv) compare change in location (LChangeDelta) is less than athreshold 56, (v) if yes the Registration-Request message transmissionis suppressed 58, If no, go to input cell phone location for the nextloop 60.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the logic has the basic steps as illustrated.In this basic logic, the cell phone location as determined by GPSfunction may be sufficient for the operation of the RRSTM logic. Thesteps are self explanatory as follows. The logic starts 62. At step 64,the device location with the help of GPS function 66 is determined. Atstep 68, time elapsed counter is checked. At step 70 the new location ofthe device with the help of GPS function 66 is determined. At step 72,if the change in two locations is determined and if the change isgreater than 100 feet, then at step 74, the RR signal is broadcast orits broadcast is not suppressed. If the change is less than 100 feet,then the broadcast of the RR signal is suppressed by looping back tostep 64 to begin a new loop.

The global positioning satellite (GPS) system for commercialapplications may not provide a location precision that is less than 100feet change is location. The figure of 100 feet in step 72 is used as anillustration to illustrate how the logic works. The FIG. 100 feet may beany number that represents a threshold for the change in location forwhich the RR broadcast is either suppressed or not suppressed. Thefigure of 100 feet may be chosen to represent a threshold that thedevice has not moved at all from its present location for the purposesof the RR logic. Further a GPS provided location resolution to 100 feetof the cell phone device may be considered adequate for emergencyresponse system as well as other applications.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the logic has the steps as illustrated. InFIG. 4B, a rate of location change logic steps 71 and 73 have been addedthat determine if the cell phone is in a vehicle in motion. Further manyphones now come equipped with a gyro function 67 that can more preciselydetermine change is location and that may work in conjunction with theGPS function 66. In that case the logic to suppress Registration-RequestSignal transmissions is bypassed and the logic continuously loops todetect a change in the movement of the cell phone.

The system may have a function that computes a rate of change oflocation and if the rate is above a threshold, indicative of a rapidlymoving physical location, the function does not suppress the prior artRegistration-Request Signal transmissions to the network.

The system may have a function to detect a previous and a currentlocation of the cell phone device, receives location inputs from acombination of a GPS function and a gyro function in the device to havea more precise cell phone location to compute the change is location andthe rate of change in location of the cell phone device.

A system that works in conjunction with a cellular telephone network hasa Registration-Request Signal transmission management function thatoperates in the device and periodically detects change in physicallocation of the device from an immediate prior location, called anLchangeDelta. The function, if the LchangeDelta keeps the device in acell space boundary, suppresses a prior art Registration-Request Signaltransmission from the device to the cellular network.

The function, if the LchangeDelta moves a device out of the cellboundary, does not suppress the prior art Registration-Request Signaltransmission from the device to the cellular network.

Handset 12

The handset 12 operating as part of the network 14 is programmed toinclude GPS location data as part of an R-R transmission record 27. Thehandset 12 operating as part of the network 14 is also programmed toupdate its GPS location data when the handset 12 detects a physicalmovement in the handset location that exceeds 100 feet from a priorlocation. These functions of the handset have been described earlierwith reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B and also with reference to FIGS. 4Aand 4B.

HLR Database 20

As illustrated with reference to FIG. 1, a cellular communicationnetwork 14 has a HLR database 20 of a mobile switching center (MSC) 19of a cellular communication network that maintains a GPS location data27C of a mobile handset 12. The GPS location data 27C is maintained inthe HLR database 20 with reference to a mobile identification number(MIN) 27A and an electronic serial number (ESN) 27B.

The HLR database 20 may be part of the MSC 19. Alternatively, the HLRdatabase 20 may operate independently of the MSC 19 and serve the MSC 19as well as other applications. On request, the HLR database 20 sends theGPS location data of the handsets to an application.

These applications may include an application that is resident andoperating in the MSC 19 itself or the application may be resident andoperating in an entity outside of the MSC 19. These applications mayinclude commercial applications that have been contracted for betweenthe commercial and government entities and the cellular network carriercompanies.

Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 19 Logic 80

As illustrated with reference to FIG. 4C, the MSC 19 of the network 14has MSC logic 80. Logic 80 receives and processes an R-R record 27 fromthe handset 12 that contains GPS location data 27C and stores GPSlocation data 27C in the HLR database 20.

Logic 80 has the following functions. Function 81 receives R-R signalrecord 27 from handsets 12 operating in the wireless network. Function82 processes the R-R signal record from the handset. Function 83extracts ESN & MIN data from the R-R record and saves in the HLRdatabase. Function 84 extracts handset GPS location data from the R-Rrecord and save the handset GPS location data in lat/long in the HLRdatabase. Function 85 saves the identification of the cells which pickedup the R-R signal transmission. Logic 80 functions as described abovemay be performed in any order and not necessarily the order they areshown in FIG. 4C. The end result of the logic 80 is that the HLRdatabase has the GPS location data of the handset 12, in addition to thedata already present in the HLR database as in prior art.

Efficient Device Paging Logic 90

The functions of the efficient paging logic 90 are illustrated withreference to FIG. 5A and 5B.

As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the routing logic 90 operates in the MSC 19in conjunction with the HLR database 20 for routing a received incomingcall to a called device 12. As part of the routing, the logic 90 firstpages by sending a page command in the specific cell where the device 12is located. The specific cell identification has been determined fromthe device 12 GPS location data in the HLR database 20. The device 12responds to the page and the call is routed to the device 12 in thatspecific cell.

As illustrated in FIG. 5B, the functions of logic 90 are illustrated.Function 91 processes the incoming call for routing. Function 92 parsethe destination number of the called device and Check its presence inthe HLR database 20.

Function 93, from the HLR database 20, finds the last known cellidentifications of the device 12. Function 94 retrieves the GPS Locationdata of the device 12 from HLR database 20. Function 95 using these dataof the last known cell identifications and the current GPS location datain latitude longitude of the device 12 determines the specific cellidentification of the device 12. Knowing the device 12's lat/long fromthe HLR database helps determine the exact and specific cellidentification, the device is at the time of the incoming call.

Function 96 send a page command to the specific cell Id. Function 97waits for page response from the device 12. Function 98 sets up calldata. Function 99 routes the incoming call to the identified cell towersin the specific cell.

Emergency Responder Logic 100

The wireless network has emergency-responder logic 100 in the MSC 19.The functions of the logic 100 are illustrated with the help of FIGS.6A, 6B, 6C and 6D.

As illustrated with the help of FIG. 6A, the logic 100, as shown by thedotted box has different parts that operate and executes in threedifferent places. The logic 100 operates in (i) as part of the callrouting logic 100A, (ii) as part of the 911 logic 100B, (iii) and aslogic 100C as part of the emergency responder database 200.

As illustrated in FIG. 6A, the call routing logic 100A, for a received911 emergency call from the cell phone device 12, parses the caller idand checks for that caller id in the HLR database 20. The logic 100Afinds the last known cell area id and retrieves the handset GPS locationdata from the HLR database 20.

The logic 100A then sends the call control to a 911 logic 100B. The 911logic 100B may be part of the MSC system by being co-located or may beoperative in another location that is accessible by any MSC 19 over theInternet.

The 911 logic 100B works in conjunction with logic 100C that isinterfaced with an Emergency Responder Data and Physical Addressdatabase 200. The 911 logic 100B receives the latitude longitude data ofthe calling device 12 and with the help of database 200 maps thatlocation to the nearest ER region. The 911 logic 100B also maps thelatitude longitude data to the nearest physical address of the device,again using the database 200.

The logic 100C provides for the search logic and may operate as part ofthe database servers and provides an interface to the data in thedatabase 200 to search and fetch the ER region data and the physicaladdress data of the device corresponding to a latitude longitude value.Such search logic is considered prior art is used in many prior artapplications to search a database.

Logic 100B based on the latitude longitude data of the handset 12receives via logic 100C two different data sets identified as data set Aand data set B. The data set A provides the ER region that would beresponsible for handling this emergency response and its landlinecontact number for routing the 911 call to that landline number. Thedataset B provides the actual physical address where the handset 12 iscurrently located. Logic 100B having received these two data sets A andB format a record and sends the record to the logic 100A.

Then the 911 logic 100B sends both of these data to the logic 100A. Thelogic 100A then embeds physical address data in the call and routes the911 call to the Emergency Responder 29 for the ER region and sets up alive call connection between the device and the ER 29.

The features of the database 200 are illustrated with the help of FIG.6B. The database 200 has two different databases 200A and 200B. Thedatabase 200A stores the data relate to different ER regions. For eachER region, the database stores regions id, address, telephone, contact,region boundary, map and latitude longitude boundaries. The database 200is used to map the latitude longitude data of a received 911 call to aspecific ER region that would respond to the call. The database 200Asends the landline telephone number of the ER region to the logic 90 forit to route the 911 call to that landline number.

The database 200B identifies the cities of each ER region of database200A and the physical addresses present in each of these cities and thelatitude longitude of each such address. The database 200B alsoidentifies the other parts of the city such as various landmarks, parks,streets, and Freeways.

The database 200B maps a latitude longitude data of a received 911 callto one of these physical addresses.

The database 200 maps the GPS location data to a physical address and,sends a text message with the physical address to the emergency system.The mapping to a physical address from a GPS location data in latitudeand longitude dimensions is prior art. The mapping may be done by atabular look up of the physical addresses that map to the GPS locationdata.

The Emergency Responder System 29 is illustrated with reference to FIG.6C. What is illustrated is that a incoming 911 call is received by acall handling logic and this logic based on the availability of theStations routes the call to a particular station manned by an agent.

Each station has a display screen and an audio head phone being used bythe agent to receive and respond to the 911 call. The station displaysmeta data such as sequence time date and also displays city, telephoneand the physical address of the calling device for the 911 call.Optionally the 911 logic may also support display of if the cell phoneis in a vehicle that is in motion.

The other parts of the display provide for operator notes and dialogueand dispatch notes if any. The 911 meta and dialogue anddispatch/resolution data is appropriately formatted and simultaneouslybeing sent and being recorded on a tape storage. The audio feed as heardon the headphone also overlays the physical address in addition todisplaying on the display screen.

FIG. 6D provided a simplified illustration of the different functions oflogic 100. Function 101 processes the incoming call for routing.Function 102 retrieves location data from the HLR database. Function 103converts the latitude longitude data to a physical address. Function 104creates a text message and sends to the emergency system. Function 105performs a text to speech conversion of the physical address andfunction 106 embeds the physical address in the voice call as overlaidaudio. Function 107 routes the call the emergency system 29.

The emergency responder logic 100A in the MSC for a received 911emergency call from the handset 12 retrieves the handset GPS locationdata 27C from the HLR database 20. The logic 100B maps the GPS locationdata 27C to a physical address. Logic 100A then performs a text tospeech conversion of the physical address. The technologies that supporttext to speech conversion are prior art. The logic 100A also may have afunction that overlays the speech version of the physical address in arouted 911 call to the emergency system 29.

Efficient Device 12 Power Management Logic 110

The functions of the efficient device power management logic 110 areillustrated with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B.

As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the logic 110 operates in the MSC 19 forcomputing the device's 12 optimum signal transmission strength based onthe location of the device in a given cell area respective to thedistance to the nearest cell telephone towers. Logic 110 working inconjunction with the HLR database 10 computes the device 12 optimumsignal transmission strength for optimizing battery usage of device 12.Logic 110 receives R-R signal record 27 from the device 12 and sends theprecise signal strength 31 to the device 12 via the wireless network 14.

The logic 110 receives an R-R signal transmission from the device, andupdates the HLR database with the cell id and the device's GPS locationdata as had been described earlier with reference to logic 90.

Subsequent to processing the R-R signal as in logic 90, describedearlier, the logic 110 reads the current GPS location data of the deviceand computes the device's transmission signal strength for transmissionto the nearest cell tower in the cell area and sends that signalstrength to the wireless device over the control channel for the deviceto store in the device.

This approach it is believed is preferable to computing the devicesignal transmission strength via prior art triangulation techniques thatdepends upon the MSC 19 receiving signal from the device at least threecell towers at full power and then based on the relative received signalstrength at each cell tower and knowing the geographical placement ofeach cell tower, to compute the device's location in that cell as wellas its distance to the nearest cell tower.

The functions of logic 110 are illustrated with reference to FIG. 7B. Asillustrated in FIG. 7B, function 111 receives R-R signal and verifies Idin HLR database 20. Function 112 saves GPS Location data of the device12 in the HLR database 20. Function 113 reads Cell Identifications ofthe handset 12 in the database 20. Function 114 reads current GPSlat/long of the device 12. Function 115 computes exact cell id from theGPS location data. Function 116 computes distance of the device 12 toclosest cell tower in the specific cell space. Function 117sends/transmits a signal strength management command to the handset. Thefunction 118 repeats the process if GPS location data of the device 12,in the database has changed signifying movement of the handset 12relative to the cell towers.

The network 14 sends to the handset 12 a handset transmission signalstrength 31, based on the distance of the GPS location of the handset 12from the cell towers in the cell area in lieu of performing atriangulation logic.

A mobile wireless cell phone device, operating as apart of a wirelesscommunication network has a GPS function. A registration request signaltransmission management (RRSTM) logic operating in the cell phone devicecreates a registration-request (R-R) record and embeds a GPS locationdata of the device in the record in addition to the internationalmobility equipment identifier (IMEI) data of the device in the record.The logic sends the R-R record with the GPS location data to thewireless network.

The device receives from the network a device transmission signalstrength, as computed by the network based on a distance of the GPSlocation of the device to the cell towers in the cell area, in lieu ofthe network performing a triangulation logic to compute the location ofthe device in the cell area. The device stores the received transmissionsignal strength and uses that data to calibrate the transmission signalstrength of an outgoing voice and data transmission to the network toeconomize on the battery of the device. The device, operating as part ofthe wireless network, is programmed to include GPS location data of thedevice as part of a R-R transmission record to the network.

The device operating as part of the wireless network is programmed toupdate its GPS location data for inclusion in the R-R record andtransmit the R-R record when the device detects a physical movement inthe device location that exceeds a threshold equal to 100 feet from aprior location.

A wireless network operating in conjunction with wireless mobiledevices, has a mobile switching center (MSC) with a home location record(HLR) database that stores subscriber Id data of cell phone devices thatare subscribed to and are operating in the network. The network receivesand processes a R-R record from the cell phone devices, the recordscontains a GPS location data of the devices and the network stores theGPS location data of the devices in the HLR database.

The network sends to the device, a handset transmission signal strength,as computed by the network based on the distance of the GPS location ofthe handset from the cell towers in the cell area, in lieu of performinga triangulation logic.

The MSC for routing a received call into the network from a callingtelephone device to a called cell phone device, pages the called deviceonly in the specific cell location that is mapped from the GPS locationdata of the device in the HLR database, in lieu of paging all thesurrounding cells from a last known cell location of the cell phonedevice.

A cellular communication network has a HLR database of a mobileswitching center (MSC) of a cellular communication network thatmaintains a GPS location data of a mobile cell phone device. The GPSlocation data is maintained in the HLR database with reference to amobile identification number (MIN) and a electronic serial number (ESN).The HLR database, on request received by the network, sends the GPSlocation data of the device with the device identifier to a systemhosting an application. The application may include an application thatis resident and operating in the MSC itself or the application may beresident and operating in a system by an entity outside of the MSC.

A cellular communication network based emergency response system, has amobile switching center (MSC) of a cellular communication network thatmaintains, in an home location record (HLR) database, a GPS locationdata of a mobile cell phone device, for devices that are operating inthe network. The MSC has an interface to an emergency response (ER)system. The MSC for a received 911 emergency call from a wireless deviceretrieves the device's GPS location data from the HLR database and sendsto the ER system over the interface.

An emergency response logic in the ER system maps the received GPSlocation data to (i) an ER region contact data from a pre-stored ERregion contact database and (ii) maps the GPS location data to aphysical address of the device. The logic creates and sends a recordwith the ER region contact data and the device's physical address datato the MSC over the interface. The MSC receives the record and routs the911 call to the ER region contact landline. The logic embeds atext/voice message with the physical address of the device or sends aseparate text message record.

The MSC for a received 911 emergency call from a device retrieves thedevice's GPS location data from the HLR database and routs the call withthe location data to an ER system.

An emergency responder logic in the ER system, maps the received GPSlocation data to (i) an ER region contact data and (ii) to a physicaladdress of the device. The logic routs the call to a landline number ofthe ER region and embeds a text message with the physical address of thehandset to the ER region.

An emergency responder logic in the MSC for a received 911 emergencycall from the device retrieves the device's GPS location data, maps to aphysical address and performs a text to speech conversion of thephysical address and embeds the physical address in a routed 911 call tothe emergency system.

An emergency response system for a wireless network has a logic that isoperable in a server of the emergency response system that receives alat/long data of a received 911 call, of a cell phone device operatingin the wireless network, from a mobile switching center of the wirelessnetwork. The logic interfaces with a ER database system, the ER databasesystem maps the lat/long data to a physical address and the logicretrieves the device's physical address from the database.

The logic sends the physical address data to the mobile switchingcenter.

The ER database system also sends to the logic the ER region where thedevice is located and the landline number of the ER region. The logicsends both the device's physical address and the ER region landlinenumber to the mobile switching center for the mobile switching center,thereby the mobile switching center is able to route the 911 emergencycall to the specific ER region where the device is located as well asthe physical address of the device.

The ER database system stores the cities in each of the ER regions andthe physical addresses in each city along with their lat/long data. TheER database system stores ER region details including address andlandline contact numbers. The ER database system stores for each of thecities in each of the ER regions, the landmarks including parks,highways, libraries, points of interest and their physical addressesalong with their lat/long data.

Method of Operation

As illustrated with reference to FIG. 8, a method for enhancing theefficiency of a cellular communication network has the following stepswhere all the steps may not be used or used in the order specified.

At step 120, maintaining in a mobile switching center (MSC) of acellular communication network, a GPS location data of a mobile handset,referenced by a mobile identification number (MIN) and an electronicserial number (ESN), in addition to a geographic cell number, in an HLRdatabase for the handsets, operating in the network.

At step 122, retrieving by emergency responder logic in the MSC, for areceived 911 emergency call, the GPS location data of the handset, fromthe HLR database, and converting the GPS physical data to a physicaladdress, and sending a text message with the physical address to anemergency response system.

At step 124, retrieving by the emergency responder logic in the MSC, fora received 911 emergency call, the GPS location data of the handset fromthe HLR database, and converting the GPS location data to a physicaladdress, performing a text to speech conversion of the physical addressand embedding in the voice call before routing the call to the emergencyresponse system.

At step 126, routing by the MSC, a received call, by paging a handsetonly in the cell location identified by the GPS location data.

At step 128, sending by the network to the handset, a handsettransmission signal strength, based on the distance of the GPS locationof the handset from the cell towers in the cell area in lieu ofperforming a triangulation logic.

At step 130, receiving and processing by the network an R-R record thatcontains GPS location data and stores GPS location data in the HLRdatabase.

At step 132, programming the handset operating as part of the network toinclude GPS location data as part of an R-R transmission record.

At step 134, programming the handset, operating as part of the network,to update its GPS location data when the handset has moved more than 100feet.

Further detailed method steps are provided as follows.

A method for a mobile wireless cell phone device, operating as apart ofa wireless communication network has the following steps, where all thesteps may not be used or used in the order specified:

a. having by the cell phone device a GPS function;

b. creating by a registration request signal transmission management(RRSTM) logic, operating in the cell phone device, aregistration-request (R-R) record and embedding a GPS location data ofthe device in the record in addition to a international mobilityequipment identifier (IMEI) data of the cell phone device in the record;

c. sending by the logic the R-R record with the GPS location data to thewireless network.

d. receiving by the device from the network a device transmission signalstrength, as computed by the network based on a distance of the GPSlocation of the device to the cell towers in the cell area, in lieu ofthe network performing a triangulation logic to compute the location ofthe device.

d. storing by the device the received transmission signal strength andusing that data to calibrate the transmission signal strength of anoutgoing voice and data transmission to the network and thus economizeon the battery of the device.

e. programming the device, operating as part of the wireless network, toinclude GPS location data as part of a R-R transmission record.

f. programming the device operating as part of the wireless network toupdate its GPS location data for inclusion in the R-R record and sendthe R-R record when the device detects a physical movement in thedevice's location that exceeds 100 feet from a prior location.

A method for a wireless network operating in conjunction with mobilewireless devices has the following steps where all the steps may not beused or used in the order specified:

a. having by the wireless network a mobile switching center (MSC) with ahome location record (HLR) database that stores subscriber Id data ofcell phone devices that are subscribed to and are operating in thenetwork;

b. receiving and processing by the network a R-R record from the cellphone devices, the records containing a GPS location data of the devicesand the network storing the GPS location data of the devices in the HLRdatabase.

c. sending by the network to the device, a device transmission signalstrength, as computed by the network based on the distance of the GPSlocation of the device from the cell towers in the cell area, in lieu ofperforming a triangulation logic.

d. paging by the MSC, for routing a received call into the network froma calling telephone device to a called cell phone device, only thecalled device in the specific cell location that is mapped from the GPSlocation data of the device in the HLR database, in lieu of paging allthe surrounding cells from a last known cell location of the cell phonedevice.

A method for cellular communication network based emergency responsesystem, has the following steps where all the steps may not be used orused in the order specified:

a. maintaining by a mobile switching center (MSC) of a cellularcommunication network, in an home location record (HLR) database, a GPSlocation data of a mobile cell phone device, for devices that areoperating in the network;

b. interfacing the MSC to an emergency response (ER) system;

c. retrieving the device's GPS location data from the HLR database bythe MSC for a received 911 emergency call for the device and sending tothe ER system over the interface.

d. mapping by an emergency responder logic in the ER system, thereceived GPS location data to (i) an ER region contact data and (ii) toa physical address of the device.

e. creating by the logic and sending a record with the ER region contactdata and the device's physical address data to the MSC over theinterface;

f. receiving by the MSC the record and routing the 911 call to the ERregion contact landline;

g. embedding by the logic a text/voice message with the physical addressof the device or sending a separate text message record.

h. mapping by an emergency responder logic in the ER system, mapping thereceived GPS location data to (i) an ER region contact data and (ii) toa physical address of the handset;

i. routing by the logic the call to a landline number of the ER regionand embeds a text message with the physical address of the device to theER region.

j. retrieving the device's GPS location data by an emergency responderlogic in the MSC for a received 911 emergency call from the handset,mapping to a physical address and performing a text to speech conversionof the physical address and embedding the physical address in a routed911 call to the emergency system.

A method of a cellular communication network operation has the followingsteps where all the steps may not be used or used in the orderspecified:

a. maintaining in a mobile switching center (MSC) of a cellularcommunication network, a GPS location data of a mobile handset,referenced by a mobile identification number (MIN) and an electronicserial number (ESN), in addition to a geographic cell number, in an HLRdatabase for the cell phone devices, operating in the network.

b. retrieving by an emergency responder logic in the MSC, for a received911 emergency call, the GPS location data of the device, from the HLRdatabase, and converting the GPS physical data to a physical address,and sending a text message with the physical address to an emergencyresponse system.

c. retrieving by the emergency responder logic in the MSC, for areceived 911 emergency call, the GPS location data of the device fromthe HLR database, and converting the GPS location data to a physicaladdress, performing a text to speech conversion of the physical addressand embedding in the voice call before routing the call to the emergencyresponse system.

In summary, a cellular communication network with a mobile switchingcenter (MSC) of a cellular communication network maintains a GPSlocation data of a mobile handset referenced by a mobile identificationnumber (MIN) and an electronic serial number (ESN) in addition to ageographic cell number in an HLR database for handsets operating in thenetwork.

The network uses the GPS location data of the handsets in its networkfor different purposes, these may include, (i) efficient paging forrouting incoming calls, (ii) efficient location data response toemergency responders, and (iii) more efficient management of battery inthe handsets.

While the particular invention, as illustrated herein and disclosed indetail is fully capable of obtaining the objective and providing theadvantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it ismerely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of theinvention and that no limitations are intended to the details ofconstruction or design herein shown other than as described in theappended claims.

1. A cellular communication network based emergency response system,comprising: a. a mobile switching center (MSC) of a cellularcommunication network that maintains, in an home location record (HLR)database, a GPS location data of a mobile cell phone device, for devicesthat are operating in the network; b. the MSC has an interface to anemergency response (ER) system; c. the MSC for a received 911 emergencycall from a wireless device retrieves the device's GPS location datafrom the HLR database and sends to the ER system over the interface. 2.The network as in claim 2, comprising: an emergency response logic inthe ER system maps the received GPS location data to (i) an ER regioncontact data from a pre-stored ER region contact database and (ii) mapsthe GPS location data to a physical address of the device.
 3. Thenetwork as in claim 2, comprising: a. the logic creates and sends arecord with the ER region contact data and the device's physical addressdata to the MSC over the interface; b. the MSC receives the record androuts the 911 call to the ER region contact landline; c. the logicembeds a text/voice message with the physical address of the device orsends a separate text message record.
 4. The network as in claim 1,comprising: the MSC for a received 911 emergency call from a deviceretrieves the device's GPS location data from the HLR database and routsthe call with the location data to an ER system.
 5. The network as inclaim 4, comprising: a. an emergency responder logic in the ER system,maps the received GPS location data to (i) an ER region contact data and(ii) to a physical address of the device; b. the logic routs the call toa landline number of the ER region and embeds a text message with thephysical address of the handset to the ER region.
 6. The network as inclaim 1, comprising: an emergency responder logic in the MSC for areceived 911 emergency call from the device retrieves the device's GPSlocation data, maps to a physical address and performs a text to speechconversion of the physical address and embeds the physical address in arouted 911 call to the emergency system.
 7. A method for cellularcommunication network based emergency response system, comprising thesteps of: a. maintaining by a mobile switching center (MSC) of acellular communication network, in an home location record (HLR)database, a GPS location data of a mobile cell phone device, for devicesthat are operating in the network; b. interfacing the MSC to anemergency response (ER) system; c. retrieving the device's GPS locationdata from the HLR database by the MSC for a received 911 emergency callfor the device and sending to the ER system over the interface.
 8. Themethod as in claim 7, comprising the steps of: mapping by an emergencyresponder logic in the ER system, the received GPS location data to (i)an ER region contact data and (ii) to a physical address of the device.9. The method as in claim 8, comprising the steps of: a. creating by thelogic and sending a record with the ER region contact data and thedevice's physical address data to the MSC over the interface; b.receiving by the MSC the record and routing the 911 call to the ERregion contact landline; c. embedding by the logic a text/voice messagewith the physical address of the device or sending a separate textmessage record.
 10. The method as in claim 8, comprising the steps of:a. mapping by an emergency responder logic in the ER system, mapping thereceived GPS location data to (i) an ER region contact data and (ii) toa physical address of the handset; b. routing by the logic the call to alandline number of the ER region and embeds a text message with thephysical address of the device to the ER region.
 11. The method as inclaim 8, comprising the steps of: retrieving the device's GPS locationdata by an emergency responder logic in the MSC for a received 911emergency call from the handset, mapping to a physical address andperforming a text to speech conversion of the physical address andembedding the physical address in a routed 911 call to the emergencysystem.
 12. A method of a cellular communication network operation,comprising the steps of: maintaining in a mobile switching center (MSC)of a cellular communication network, a GPS location data of a mobilehandset, referenced by a mobile identification number (MIN) and anelectronic serial number (ESN), in addition to a geographic cell number,in an HLR database for the cell phone devices, operating in the network.13. The method of network operation as in claim 12, comprising the stepsof: retrieving by an emergency responder logic in the MSC, for areceived 911 emergency call, the GPS location data of the device, fromthe HLR database, and converting the GPS physical data to a physicaladdress, and sending a text message with the physical address to anemergency response system.
 14. The method of network operation as inclaim 12, comprising the steps of: retrieving by the emergency responderlogic in the MSC, for a received 911 emergency call, the GPS locationdata of the device from the HLR database, and converting the GPSlocation data to a physical address, performing a text to speechconversion of the physical address and embedding in the voice callbefore routing the call to the emergency response system.
 15. Anemergency response system for a wireless network, comprising: a. a logicoperable in a server of the emergency response system that receives alat/long data of a received 911 call, of a cell phone device operatingin the wireless network, from a mobile switching center of the wirelessnetwork; b. the logic interfaces with a ER database system, the ERdatabase system maps the lat/long data to a physical address and thelogic retrieves the device's physical address from the database.
 16. TheER system as in claim 15, further comprising: the logic sends thephysical address data to the mobile switching center.
 17. The ER systemas in claim 15, further comprising: a. the ER database system, alsosends to the logic the ER region where the device is located and thelandline number of the ER region; b. the logic sends both the device'sphysical address and the ER region landline number to the mobileswitching center for the mobile switching center, thereby the mobileswitching center is able to route the 911 emergency call to the specificER region where the device is located as well as the physical address ofthe device.
 18. The ER system as in claim 15, further comprising: the ERdatabase system stores the cities in each of the ER regions and thephysical addresses in each city along with their lat/long data.
 19. TheER system as in claim 15, further comprising: the ER database systemstores ER region details including address and landline contact numbers.20. The ER system as in claim 15, further comprising: the ER databasesystem stores for each of the cities in each of the ER regions, thelandmarks including parks, highways, libraries, points of interest andtheir physical addresses along with their lat/long data.